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South India to Get Another Vande Bharat Express on Chennai- Coimbatore Route

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Vande Bharat express
Vande Bharat express/Representational image only

NEW DELHI(Metro Rail News): South India is gearing up for the launch of another Vande Bharat Express, which is expected to be operational on the route of Chennai- Coimbatore. On April 08, 2023, this semi-high-speed indigenous built train will be flagged off by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his visit to Tamil Nadu.

The Railway Board has requested ICF (Integral Coach Factory) in Chennai through a letter dated March 20, 2023, to supply the Southern Railway zone with the 10th rake of Vande Bharat ver-2, having 16 coaches.

Following the Vande Bharat Trains on Mysuru-Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Chennai Central and Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam routes, it is going to be the third train in the region which will be operated by the Southern Railway zone. 

So far, there is a total of 10 Vande Bharat Trains, which are operational on different routes across India. This Semi-high-speed train with modern amenities is gaining attraction by the commuters as it will reduce the time travel by 25 to 45 percent. It has a top speed of 180 Kmph while its operational speed is 130kmph making it the fastest train in the country.

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J Kumar-AICPL JV Wins Contract of 219.19 Crore for Remodelling Work of Purple Line’s Baiyappanahalli Depot

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Bengaluru Metro/Image for representational purpose only
Image for representational purpose only

BENGALURU (Metro Rail News): The Joint Venture of J Kumar Infraprojects and AIC Infrastructure has won a contract for remodelling work worth Rs. 219.19 for Bangalore Metro Purple line’s Baiyappanahalli Depot.

The contract’s scope of work includes remodelling and constructing Baiyappanahalli Depot under Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase 2 A.

The letter of Award was issued to J Kumar- AICPL JV on March 18 when it was awarded civil construction contract (182.33 cr.) of the Airport Depot of Bangalore metro.

Earlier, In August 2022, BMRCL solicited bids for the construction project, which was estimated to cost Rs. 266.21 crore and have a completion deadline of 821 days (2.25 years).

URC Constructions had constructed the depot during Phase 1 of the Bangalore Metro, which comprised 16 stabling bay lines (SBL), 3 inspection bay lines (IBL), and 4 repair bay lines (RBL). To increase its stabling capacity, the depot will be remodelled by constructing two levels, resulting in a total of 42 lines.

Way back in December 2020,  Asian Development Bank (ADB) had approved a loan of 500 million USD ( Rs. 3680 Crore) and to finance this contract. This remodelling work of Baiyapanahalli Depot is expected to be executed in a phased manner in order to ensure uninterrupted operations of the metro on Purple line. It is planned that Baiyapanahalli Depot will be completely converted to service the CBTC-equipped trains only on Blue Line when challaghatta Depot and Kadugodi Depot will be operational. 

 

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NCRTC to Support HRIDC in Project Implementation, Signs an Agreement

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Agreement signing ceremony between NCRTC and HRIDC
Agreement signing ceremony between NCRTC and HRIDC

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Today, NCRTC signed an agreement with HRIDC to share knowledge and technological support with implementing its in-house developed IT tool, SPEED© for them.

Agreement signing ceremony between NCRTC and HRIDC

HRIDC is going to implement a number of rail projects, including the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) connecting Palwal to Sonipat via Sohna, Manesar and Kharkhouda. It is a broad-gauge double railway line for passenger and freight traffic which will provide seamless connectivity to Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) and to Indian Railways. SPEED© will be an extremely crucial tool in their implementation.

Agreement signing ceremony between NCRTC and HRIDC

SPEED©, ‘Systematic Program Evaluation for Efficient delivery of Project’, is a custom-built application with focused features and capabilities keeping in view the grassroots-level practical requirements of the project. It is a project monitoring and management tool that has inbuilt capabilities for a complete audit trail of actions performed, provision for maintaining information about different contract packages and corridors, and configurable reporting formats.

SPEED uses information and data from separate tools/Apps such as Primavera, Common Data Environment (CDE), Attendance App, Quality App and other applications on a single platform giving outputs in the form of various reports and visual dashboards based upon Key Performance Indicators.

The key features of the application include monitoring progress on both pre-construction and construction levels. The activities involved in the pre-construction works can be defined in SPEED with different sub-stages against which the progress can be captured for land acquisition, identification of utilities, the progress of utility diversion, clearance of site etc.

The progress is captured on a daily basis from field units on SPEED for the respective activities/elements executed. Moreover, field engineers can input information as and when an activity is completed through their phone/tablet/laptop from the site. Based upon the inputs done for pre-construction and construction activities, various views of progress are available in the interactive dashboard depicting the details of the completed and balance status of the activities for management review.

NCRTC realised the full potential of this technology in the implementation of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The nationwide lockdown presented several unprecedented challenges to keep the progress on schedule. During that time, the platform made it possible for all teams working at several sites to coordinate seamlessly without any physical interaction and ensure that the project progress remained on schedule.

Speaking on occasion, Mr Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director, NCRTC, said, “The use of SPEED made it possible for us to save considerable time in the implementation of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor. It helped us in risk mitigation and avoiding delays as a result of timely corrective actions which led to timely completion and overall savings in project cost. This project implementation experience and regular refinement based upon the feedback and requirements is what makes it stand out from other such tools available in the market.”

Mr Rajesh Agarwal, Managing Director, HRIDC, added, “Both HRIDC and NCRTC are implementing transformative rail-based projects which will play a key role in enabling high-speed commuter & freight movement and in turn bringing prosperity to the region. NCRTC has set benchmarks for the entire industry in terms of efficient & timely project implementation and technological innovation. We are thankful to team NCRTC who are helping us in the adoption and customization of SPEED, which is a highly refined & powerful tool for project monitoring and management. I believe SPEED will prove to be a highly effective tool enabling team HRIDC for speedy and quality delivery of projects.”

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CMRL to Consider Low-Capacity Metro Rail System in Place of LRT System

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coimbatore metro
Image for representation only

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): CMRL (Chennai Metro Rail Limited) is considering a three-car low-capacity metro rail system instead of an elevated metro line or light rail transit (LRT) system. DPR for LRT system was prepared by CMRL and is now being modified by CMRL itself.

According to officials, there are no Indian firms to manufacture LRT trains, and importing them can be costly. Furthermore, while the construction cost of an LRT system is 20% less than a regular metro system, the lack of manufacturers for LRT trains could increase project costs.

The decision to modify the plan came after the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs advised the CMRL to go for the low-capacity metro rail system. The DPR is currently undergoing design modifications and is expected to be ready in three months.

During the budget speech, the finance minister of the state announced the implementation of a metro rail project in Coimbatore, a fast-growing tier-II city in India that is home to numerous economic activities like textiles, technology, and medical facilities. The decision was taken considering the future growth potential of the city.

Once completed, the Coimbatore metro system is expected to reduce road traffic and provide a boon to students, with at least 25 schools and colleges located along a 10km stretch of Avinashi Road. In addition, CMRL plans to present the DPRs of both Coimbatore and Madurai metro to the government of India in June.

 

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Wabtec Wins Order to Supply Latest Brake System for Pune Metro Line 3 Project

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Buran Air Compressor which will be part of Wabtec's supply for the project.
Buran Air Compressor which will be part of Wabtec's supply for the project.

PUNE (Metro Rail News):  Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) announced today a brake system order from Alstom Transport India Ltd. to support Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited and Pune Metro Rail Development Authority for the Metro Line 3 project. The order will supply the latest braking technology for the line’s new trains, which will improve performance, efficiency, and safety. 

“This order reinforces Wabtec’s continuous commitment to deliver high performance and safety critical products for the metro rolling stock segment in India,” said Preetam Ganguly, Sales and Marketing Director, Wabtec Transit, India. “This braking system also has a substantial ‘Make in India’ content and is primarily designed by our in-country engineering team.” 

Wabtec will deliver the braking system to Alstom, which is building the trains for the new line. The high-performance brake system will equip the trains with critical safety features, high reliability, and reduced maintenance intervals. The company already supplies similar brake systems for other Indian metro projects in Chennai, Kochi, Lucknow, and Mumbai, making Wabtec a preferred brake supplier for the SMART Metro Platform. 

The order covers 22 trains consisting of 66 cars in a three-car configuration. Alstom is building the cars at its Sricity plant in India. The trains will run on the 23-km Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar elevated Metro Line 3, which will connect the IT hub of Hinjewadi to central district of Shivajinagar. The project is expected to be completely operational by April 2025. 

Wabtec’s Transit business in India is primarily based out of Hosur, Tamil Nadu. It develops and builds major subsystems for the transit industry including brake systems, pantographs, couplers, air-conditioning systems, and passenger-access doors. The company’s large engineering presence in Bangalore provides technical and service support. 

About Wabtec 

Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) is focused on revolutionizing the way the world moves for future generations. The company is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for the freight and transit rail industries, as well as the mining, marine and industrial markets. Wabtec has been a leader in the rail industry for over 150 years and has a vision to achieve a zero-emission rail system in the U.S. and worldwide.

 

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Solar power plant at Ghaziabad RRTS station generates electricity, NCRTC aims for 70% renewable energy for operations

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Solar panels at Metro
Representational image only

GHAZIABAD (Metro Rail News ): According to officials from NCRTC (National Capital Region Transport Corporation ), a solar power plant installed on the rooftop of a receiving substation near Ghaziabad RRTS station has begun producing electricity.

The plant has a capacity to generate 25,000 units of electricity annually, and NCRTC intends to fulfill 70% of its auxiliary power requirements for RRTS operations using renewable energy, primarily solar power. The receiving substation rooftop now houses 54 solar panels, each approximately 1mX2m in size, which will generate the aforementioned amount of electricity.

Under the RESCO model, the NCRTC will purchase the energy generated at a mutually-agreed rate from the service provider company that has installed the solar power plants at specified locations. The energy generated from the solar power plant will be utilized to meet demand at stations and buildings, and NCRTC has recognized the potential for nearly 11 MWp of solar power on the rooftops of stations and buildings along the RRTS corridor, anticipating the generation of 10 million units of electricity to fulfill auxiliary consumption needs.

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Rahee Infratech Bags Rs. 136.66 Crore Surat Metro Line-2 Track Work Contract

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Gujarat Metro
Representative Photo: (GMRC)

Surat (Metro Rail News): Rahee Infratech has been awarded a contract worth Rs. 136.66 crore to provide and set up standard gauge rails for Line-2 of Surat Metro. The line will stretch over 19.26 km and will connect Bhesan-Saroli. The Surat Metro Phase 1 comprises a 40.35 km corridor with 18 elevated stations that are being constructed through two civil packages: CS5 and CS6. The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) had invited bids for the systems contract, financed by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in May 2022, and technical bids were opened in September 2022.

Six bidders had submitted their financial bids in January 2023. These bidders were Apurvakriti infrastructure ( bid of 151.94 cr.), Texmaco Rail and Engineering ( bid of 141.74 cr.) , Rail vikas Nigam Ltd. ( bid of 148.03 crore), KEC International ( bid of 143.93 cr. ), Larsen & toubro ( bid of 139.78 cr. ) and Rahee Infratech ( bid of 133.66 cr.).

Rahee Infratech emerged as the lowest bidder and was awarded the contract. The contract entails the installation, design, testing, supply, and commissioning of ballastless track from Bhesan to Saroli in the elevated section, as well as connecting lines to Depot, and ballasted/ballastless/embedded standard gauge track for Corridor-II of Surat Metro Rail Project, Phase 1. In January, GMRC had awarded another track-work contract worth Rs. 166 crore to RVNL-ISC JV for 22.77 km Line-1.

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DMRC Awards INR 80 Crore Contract to Autometers Alliance and 2XM Consult Pty Consortium

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(For representational purpose)
(For representational purpose)

NOIDA (Metro Rail News): Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has issued a letter of acceptance (LOA) to a consortium of Autometers Alliance Limited from India and 2XM consult Pty Ltd from Australia for the retrofit work in RS-1 trains of the Delhi Metro. The contract, with a total cost of INR 80,12,20,000, includes all central/state/local taxes, duties, levies, cess and other incidental charges required to fulfill the tender conditions, including statutory deductions such as TDS towards income tax, GST and labor cess.

The consortium will proceed with the assigned work and is directed to complete it within two years from 29th March 2023. The retrofit work includes the installation of new and improved technology in the RS-1 trains of the Delhi Metro, which will enhance the overall safety, efficiency and comfort of the passengers.

The DMRC is committed to providing world-class services to its passengers, and the retrofit work in the RS-1 trains is part of this mission. The new technology will improve the performance of the trains and provide passengers with a better travel experience.

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Indian Railways to Extend Network to Tawang for Security Along LAC

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Railways
Representational Image

GUWAHATI (Metro Rail News): The Indian Railways is planning to expand its railway network to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and other areas of the northeast frontier state to support India’s security strategy along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The goal is to aid the Indian Army in deploying personnel and equipment to the border. Anshul Gupta, the General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway, has stated that the final site survey report has been sent to a higher authority. The Defense Ministry has also approved two additional projects, namely Bame-Aalo up to Mechuka and Pasighat-Parshuram-Wakro, and their surveys have been completed. The Pasighat New line work is targeted for completion in March 2025.

Anshul Gupta also mentioned that there has been a delay in the Imphal connectivity project due to the Tupul incident, and they are working on precautionary measures to complete the project by December 2024. The Sikkim works are also set to be finished by December 2024. The railway project work of Serima to Kohia is scheduled to be completed by March 2024.

Moreover, an umbrella project worth Rs. 1.20 lakh crore has been launched to connect important towns and border areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Sikkim. Anshul Gupta added that they are working with the state government, various organizations, and the Indian army to accomplish this goal.

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B.L. Kashyap and Sons Bags Rs. 313 crore Railway Station Development Project in New Delhi

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Graphical Model of Bijwasan Railway Station/Image by Prathik
Image for representation only/Image by Prathik

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): B.L. Kashyap and Sons, a civil engineering construction company, has announced that it has won an order worth approximately Rs 313 crore from the Railways Land Development Authority. The project involves the development of the Bijwasan Railway Station in New Delhi and is expected to be completed in around 15 months.

According to an exchange filing, the order is from a domestic unrelated client and the company’s total order book as of now is approximately Rs 2,402 crore. The Delhi headquartered company is known for its large industrial, residential, and commercial construction projects and provides integrated engineering, procurement, and construction services.

The Bijwasan Railway Station development project is a significant win for B.L. Kashyap and Sons, and the company’s management is confident of delivering it within the stipulated timeline. With this order, the company has added another feather to its cap and is well positioned to leverage the growing demand for construction projects in India.

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